New partnership aims to improve yield while reducing risk for tomato growers

A new partnership between a financial technology firm and a biological fertilizer company aims to help tomato growers improve yields while managing rising input costs.

Sarga Agriscience, a division of Carbonwave that produces seaweed-based biological fertilizers, has teamed up with financial firm Growers Edge for a “pay-when-it-works” model that allows growers to apply Sarga Agriscience’s biological crop input with no upfront cost, according to a news release. Growers will  only if yield improvements fully cover the input costs, according to the release.

“Every season and especially in the biologicals space, growers face challenging decisions as they evaluate performance claims around products with unclear compositions and benefits,” said Jonas Kunz, Carbonwave’s Sarga Agriscience business unit director. “We’ve found that no level of testing, even with corporate partners in the 100+ Accelerator Program or with the International Finance Corporation, the private sector arm of the World Bank Group, generates more trust than this model. We simply say, ‘Try it, and pay us when it works.’ ”

For two years, Sarga Agriscience has demonstrated equivalent yield increases of $1,000 USD per acre, according to the release.

“Growers shouldn’t have to take on additional risk to try new technologies,” said Elena Bell, Growers Edge director of sustainability. “By aligning payment with actual on-farm performance, this program gives growers a clear, measurable way to evaluate the input from Sarga Agriscience in their own fields.”

The program will be available to tomato growers for the 2026 growing season, with enrollment open through May 31. Interested growers can contact Sarga Agriscience at ssantiago@carbonwave.com or visit the program page for more information.